Senior Counsel

Our Purpose Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200 countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential. Title and Summary Senior Counsel Senior Counsel IMC Job Description Overview: Mastercard is seeking an experienced attorney to provide end-to-end strategic legal support to the U.S. Marketing and Communications team based in Purchase, NY. The U.S. IMC team leads high-visibility, consumer-facing initiatives to build brand awareness and engagement, including work with ambassadors, talent, and influencers. The team runs consumer promotions and integrated campaigns, including sweepstakes, contests, and charitable promotions. Role: The Senior Counsel will be a key member of the North American Region legal team, supporting Mastercard’s largest region by advising on strategically important brand and marketing initiatives. The role requires sound judgment, marketing-law expertise, and the ability to provide decisive guidance in fast-paced matters involving privacy, IP, reputational, and brand risk. Responsibilities: • Serve as the primary day-to-day legal advisor to U.S. marketing and brand teams, supporting the design, launch, and execution of consumer-facing campaigns. • Structure, draft, and negotiate vendor, agency, production, technology, content, and talent agreements, including sports and entertainment sponsorships. • Review sweepstakes/contest rules and marketing materials, and advise on compliance with applicable consumer protection, advertising, and promotional laws and regulations. • Provide guidance on FTC advertising and endorsement requirements, influencer marketing rules, and substantiation. • Collaborate with internal subject matter experts and regional counsel on cross-regional programs. • Work cross-functionally across marketing, product, compliance, privacy, IP, risk, and business teams to provide holistic legal support. • Partner with North American Markets compliance, privacy, and IP leads to ensure sponsorships, products, and services comply with corporate policies and applicable laws and guidelines. • Identify and implement process improvements to streamline workflows and increase ease of doing business. • Advise on media and content rights (video, photography, music), including clearance, licensing, usage, and reuse (e.g., synchronization, master use, performance, and derivative rights). • Advise on brand partnerships and sponsorship activations, including content creation, reuse, and global distribution rights. • Partner with business teams on the strategy and execution of charitable and other promotions, advising on complex marketing program structures. • Develop training materials and practical guides for business clients (e.g., marketing law, ambush marketing, promotions, influencer programs, and media rights). • Serve as a trusted advisor to senior management and executives, providing clear, practical risk assessments and recommendations. Experience and Skills: • Able to work independently and collaboratively; spot issues; and prioritize and multitask in a fast-paced environment. • Experience supporting consumer-facing marketing campaigns and promotions, including knowledge of consumer protection, charitable, and advertising/endorsement requirements (FTC; SAG-AFTRA, as applicable). • Strong business acumen and communication skills to advise confidently across stakeholders, including senior management. • Promotional, commercial, and marketing/media transactional experience at a law firm and/or in-house. • Demonstrated experience negotiating talent, influencer, sponsorship, endorsement, and media-related ... (truncated, view full listing at source)